Ah, To Be Young Again

I have loved J. Crew for a ridiculously long time. I adore their quirky preppy aesthetic, the fresh faced models, and the beautiful styling and photography of their catalogs. It makes sense that I would be equally enamored of their Crewcuts collection, petite sized J. Crew togs for the privileged kids.

You may scoff, but take a good look, and I guarantee you will be as amazed as I am at the chicness of these clothes. More often than not, I end up liking the Crewcuts selections better than the clothes for the adults! I may be experiencing regression, but if I get to wear these mini fashions, then that's fine by me.Here's an example of that fashionably slick photography. How adorable do these kids look? And I even hate kids! Even though I'll be focusing on the girl's clothes in this post - cuz I'm a girl - I must say that the boy's clothes are equally as fetching. Little madras and seersucker blazers, plaid shirts, and bright sweaters, oh my!

Behold, the Grace dress. Appropriate name for such a sweet 60s shift. I love the jeweled neckline on this.

This is the shirtdress of my dreams. Dear J. Crew, can you please please make this in adult sizes? The ruffled collar, bell sleeves, and empire waist are so lovely. I really enjoyed how they styled it in the early spring catalog, with a gondolier's hat, yellow wellies, and a tulle skirt peeking out - CUTE!

This makes me think of Valentino for all of its ruffled goodness. I hate bright colors like this, but somehow I find it perfect for the style of the dress. The back is a real show stopper, with a big box pleat and little crystal buttons.

Another thing to love about Crewcuts, and J. Crew in general, is how they really think about the designs, adding in little details that make a boring piece special. I am taken by the ruffled sleeves, subtle sparkle, and pockets. Again, this would be perfect for your adult customers, J. Crew!

Another perfect little 60s silhouette, this time in a metallic brocade fabric. I still cannot picture any kid I know wearing anything like this though. Especially when you consider the price of most of these garments. Nearly $300 jackets for little snotty? No thanks.

Metallic ruffled tulle skirt. Enough said.

I Want it, I Need it, I Have to Have it

Any recommendations?

Etsy Thump

Forgive the silly title! I am - as always - on a White Stripes kick. Anyway, as a supporter of the indie contingent in anything, be it music or fashion, I find the online shop Etsy to be a great place to find very unique items for very affordable prices. As we are all quite aware, the fashion world is cutthroat, so even if an emerging young designer has loads of talent, it is very likely that he or she will never be picked up by Barney's, or at least some great boutique. That's where Etsy comes in. I took a quick stroll through some clothing shops on Etsy and found a few lovely pieces (mostly all dresses, unintentionally, of course) all for no more than $65!I love the architectural quality of this, and the slight Asian influence. It has very thin black stripes, and the top can be seductively worn off the shoulder. By Vital, this dress would be perfect for a gallery opening!

From Serene, this dress is inspired by the fantastic Zara dress, with interesting ruffle neckline and criss-cross back. I love the electric blue color. It's also available in several other colors, including buttery yellow and dark grey.

Even though the shape is completely wrong for me, I cannot help but love tent dresses. They have a very appealing flapper feel about them. This white tent dress by Some Velvet Morning (love the name) has two front pockets and a low back. The contrasting trim at the neck adds some artistic detail.

This paper bag waist skirt is another item by Some Velvet Morning. The fabric seems to have a really nice sheen to it, and the styling is spot on: all you need with a skirt like this is a simple tank, a great belt, and a cute little headband. The photography is great too, grainy and saturated, much like Jeurgen Teller for Marc Jacobs!

Finally, a black and white dress by Have Fun With Fabric (yet again, love the name). This is just a simple tank dress but I love the contrasting waist band and abstract floral detail on the hem.

Next time you feel tempted to blow hundreds of dollars on one of the more established designers out there, try out an indie designer! You'll be saving money and supporting new talent.

Anthropologie, How Do I Love Thee?

I have a well-documented and deep love for Anthropologie. Ever since I was charmed by its so-beautiful-it-could-be-framed catalog and gorgeous clothes in high school, I have never looked back. Some brush it off as merely a mall store, the kind that breed the dreaded sightings of other girls in your clothes. But I think it's so much more than that. I may not be the best example, but in the several years I have been shopping at Anthropologie and accumulating enough of their clothes to open my own Anthro annex, I have never encountered another girl wearing the same Anthro stuff as me. They have so many different brands in one spot, it's more like a department store than anything else.

I just find their vintage style clothes to be so unique, and so well-marketed as to make me want everything, even things that I do not consider particularly attractive. The catalogs are an endless source of inspiration, what with their inventive photo shoots and genius product styling. I mean, who can resist the clothes when they are displayed on beautiful models in such locales as seedy roadside diners, dusty third world outposts, and worn and weathered mansions? And the product names and descriptions! I think my ideal job would be to write those descriptions and come up with those names. I mean, would you rather buy "Silk Blouse" or "Painter's Palette Top"? Pretty easy decision, huh? I just love dreaming up scenarios in which I would wear a "Cape Victoria Top," or "Destination Trousers." "Crystal Village Blouse," "Seabed Dress," "Floating Lotus Tank," "Ms. Professor Cardigan"...don't they sound so romantic? Anyone can wear a sweater, but a "Ms. Professor Cardigan" requires someone with an imagination.

And in a sea of collaborations, Anthro's spot-on partnerships have gone somewhat unnoticed. Anna Sui's penchant for bright colors and the juxtaposition of patterns make her perfect for designing dresses exclusively for the store. More recently, Tocca and Hayden-Harnett both design exclusive bags, and French Sole have created ballet flats with very Anthro batik prints.

If nothing else, Anthropologie embodies the fantasy of fashion. Step into the store and it's like entering a stylish, worldly woman's wardrobe, filled with all the treasures that she has collected from her travels. Mixed with vintage, indie, or designer clothes, Anthropologie's wares fit in seamlessly while still managing to make a statement.